Protective shield



fig, $5 353, BANK PROTECTFON 5%FCH M) AND RELATED DEWGESa QWQS March 1, 1938- s SZALkAY 2,109,831

PROTECTIVE SHIELD Filed Sept. 25, I957- Hil 's name, when i'imlhulwm AND RELATED BEWQESQ Patented Mar. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES ee-rota Hot PATENT OFFICE 2,109,831 PROTECTIVE SHIELD Steven Szalkay, Toledo, Ohio Application September 23, 1937, Serial No. 165,249

2 Claims.

This invention relates to military protective shield devised for stopping or deflecting bullets and an object is to produce a shield of this character which is so mounted as to yield bodily upon impact of a bullet.

Another object is to produce a portable bullet shield having a collapsible spring support or mounting which enables the shield bodily to yield thereby militating against the liability of the bullet penetrating through the shield and wounding or killing the soldier behind it.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanying drawing in which Figure l is a side elevation of the protective shield showing the same set up for use;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the shield shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear end elevation of the shield;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional elevation on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional View on the line 6-6 of Figure 3; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 'll of Figure 4. v

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a pair of triangularly shaped bullet deflecting metal plates l and II which are connected together by a hinge I2 which is formed from parts integral with the plates looped to receive a pivot pin, as will be readily understood. Each of the plates is cut away to form an opening l3 through which a rifle barrel may extend, it being understood that the soldier lies or crouches in rear of the plates when set up to the position shown in Figure 1.

An important feature of this invention resides in the mounting or supporting of the shield in such manner that it can bodily yield or retract upon impact of a bullet and then return to its initial or normal position thereby to assist in the deflection of bullets and to militate against bullets penetrating through the plates I0 and I I. It will thus be apparent that the shield offers an exceedingly effective safeguard to a soldier behind it. As shown, the mounting or support for the metal plates I0 and II comprises four leaf springs l4, l5, l6 and IT. The springs are arranged in pairs, springs I4 and I being disposed at the front end of the shield and the springs l6 and I! at the rear end of the shield. Each of the leaf springs is similarly constructed and as shown in Figure 5, each spring comprises a base portion l8 and at the outer end is formed a loop l9 from which the spring extends downwardly then upwardly as indicated at 20 with the end portion upwardly bent as indicated at 2| and resting on the upper portion of the base portion [8. A lower edge or margin portion of a plate rests upon the spring between the loop portions l9 and 20 and each spring is secured to the adjacent portion of the plate by a flexible chain 22. The springs are strong enough to support the plates l0 and H away from the base portion I8 so that upon impact of a bullet, the shield can move either rearwardly or sidewise in either direction and thereafter return to its normal position. The inner end of each base portion l8 of the springs meet the end of its opposed spring centrally of the shield and is connected thereto by a hinge 23 so that the pairs of springs can collapse or fold with the plates l0 and II when the latter are folded or collapsed to enable the shield to be carried from place to place.

The base of the springs l5 and I1 is connected by a strap 24 and the base of the springs I4 and I6 is connected by a strap 25. To insure that the spring structure will be held in proper position with respect to the plates Ill and II, the forward end of the strap 25 is connected by an elastic member 26 to the forward end portion of the shield Ill and the strap 24 is similarly connected to the forward end portion of the plate II by an elastic member 21. Similarly the rear end portion of the strap 24 is connected by an elastic member 28 to the rear end portion of the plate II and an elastic member 29 similarly connects the rear end portion of the strap 25 to the rear end edge of the plate It). Consequently, when the plates l0 and II are folded together, the elastic members cause the leaf spring members to fold accordingly so that the spring support is housed between the plates l0 and H. A suitable strap may be connected to the plates to enable the shield to be conveniently carried from place to place.

From an inspection of Figures 4 and 7 it will be noted that the free inner end portion of the leaf spring has a longitudinally elongate slot 30 through which a rivet 3| extending upwardly from the base portion l8, extends. This pin and slot connection limits and controls the spring action at the forward end of the shield.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the shield will effectively deflect bullets which may strike it and militate against bullets penetrating through the metal of the plates l0 and I l, thereby providing an exceedingly eificient shelter for a soldier behind it. Since the shield can be readily and conveniently collapsed or folded into a relatively compact bundle, it may be conveniently transported by a soldier to the scene of action.

It is to be understood that changes in details of construction and arrangement may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A protective shield comprising a body portion consisting of a pair of hingedly connected plates, a set of leaf springs supporting said plates and comprising a pair of opposed leaf springs hingedly connected at the central portion of the body portion, and means connecting said springs to the edge portions of said plates whereby when said plates are folded together, the springs are disposed between the plates.

2. A protective shield comprising a body portion consisting of a pair of triangularly shaped plates hingedly connected together, a spring structure supporting said plates comprising two pair of leaf springs arranged in spaced relation, the springs of each pair being arranged in opposed relation, and a hinge centrally connecting each pair of leaf springs, and flexible means connecting each leaf spring to the adjacent plate.

STEVEN SZALKAY. 

